Do not forget that I am ready to come to her assistance whenever it is
necessary; and assure her of my sincere sympathy."

Having uttered these words, the kind-hearted prince passed on, leaning
upon the arm of a nobleman connected with his household. Coursegol,
elated by the certainty that Philip was alive, could scarcely restrain
his impatience; but he waited for the promised letter, which would prove
to Dolores that those she loved were still on earth. In a few moments M.
de Miromesnil returned. He held the precious letter in his hand and gave
it to Coursegol, who hastily perused it. It was dated in London, and had
been addressed to the duke soon after the death of Madame de Lamballe.
It contained no allusion to Mademoiselle de Mirandol, and Philip said
but little about himself; still was it not an unspeakable relief to him
to feel that he was alive and to know in what country he was sojourning.

Eager to place this letter in the hands of Dolores, Coursegol started
for home immediately; but, instead of returning as he came, he took
passage in the diligence that plied between Rouen and Paris; and that
same evening, after so many months of dreary waiting, he was able to
relieve the anxiety that Dolores had felt regarding her brother's fate.
The girl's joy was intense, and she devoutly thanked God who had revived
her faith and hope just as she was beginning to despair. If Coursegol
had listened to her, they would have started for London without delay,
so eager was she to rejoin Philip and Antoinette whom she supposed
married. But Coursegol convinced her of the absolute impossibility of
this journey. They could reach the sea only by passing through the
greatest dangers.

"Besides," added Coursegol, "what does this letter prove? That M. Philip
is safe and well, of course; but it does not prove that he is still in
London."

"Coursegol is right!" remarked Bridoul. "Before you think of starting,
you must write to M. Philip."

"But can letters pass the frontier more easily than persons?" asked
Dolores.

"Oh, I will take care of all that. If you wish to write, I know a
gentleman who is going to England and who will take charge of your
letter."

"Then I will write," said Dolores, with a sigh. "I would have preferred
to go myself, but since that is impossible----"

She paused, resolved to wait in patience.

Coursegol breathed freely again. He feared she would persist in her
determination to go, and that he would be obl